Many of our community members served in the United States Armed Forces and come home only to struggle to access the benefits they have earned. To address this issue, El Centro de la Raza has adopted King County’s Enhanced Outreach to Women Veterans & Veterans of Color Program. Our program is committed to connecting Veterans and their families to the federal, state, and local benefits they have earned. We provide information and referrals to trained personnel who can assist Veterans with filing claims, appealing a VA decision, PTSD and crisis management, Military Sexual Trauma, employment assistance, a wide range of services within King County, and services provided at El Centro de la Raza. Click here to contact us.

Crisis Advocacy

Provides crisis intervention services for families that are facing new and/or additional challenges as result of economic hardship. This program provides comprehensive advocacy, translation, information and referrals for community members seeking emergency services such as sexual assault/abuse support, substance abuse recovery, food, shelter, eviction money, childcare, and various other emergency needs.

Senior Nutrition & Wellness

Addresses emotional, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, and vocational health through nutrition education, balanced daily congregate meals, a weekly grocery bag from our food bank, and home delivered meals to homebound seniors every week. Seniors age 60 and older partake in various social and educational activities daily and exercise classes are offered three times a week.

BEBES Infant Mortality Prevention

Targeting families and women of child bearing age (15-40), pregnant and women with children under three, this program works to reduce the risk of infant mortality through education, advocacy, case management and outreach. This program emphasizes and promotes maternal health behaviors and early perinatal care and assists families with accessing and staying in appropriate health care – prenatal care, pre- and interconception care, and well-child and family health care.

Comadres Women’s Group

In cooperation with the Infant Mortality Prevention Program, COMADRES is a support group for Latina women. This group was created in response to a great need in the Latina community for building a network of mothers, sisters, cousins and neighbors that can be lost when one immigrates to the United States. For many women, this is the first time they find themselves alone at home with no one to converse with and this solitude can lead to depression, which negatively affects relationships with family and friends. COMADRES helps prevent isolation and provides opportunities for women to network, build new relationships, relax, and find support in our community.

Homeless Prevention Program

Addresses the issue of homelessness by providing housing assistance to eligible households that are currently housed, at Fair Market Rate Rent, and at imminent risk of housing loss within the Seattle city limits. We can provide short-term rent assistance and case management for up to six months in a 12-month period. In addition to other allowable housing-related financial assistance to help households stabilize their housing.

Food Bank

Addresses the issue of hunger in our community through our Food Bank, which provides nutritious, emergency and supplemental food to low-income individuals and families in the Seattle area three days per week. The Food Bank also assists people in securing food stamps and other non-emergency food resources, and provides nutrition education. El Centro de la Raza Food Bank is open to all. To ensure that we have enough food for everyone, each family is allowed one visit a week. In addition, every Friday morning we distribute food from the government or “commodities.” The “commodities” distributions are limited to residents in 98108 and 98144 zip codes. Households within these zip codes can receive commodities once every week.

The Labor Standards Outreach and Education Program conducts community outreach to Seattle workers and employers to provide accurate information about the Seattle Labor Standards through monthly workshops. The program targets Latino workers, youth, immigrants and refugees, limited English speakers, and small business owners residing in South Seattle and South King County.